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Since its going to be a long war - Marine Recall

WASHINGTON -- The Marine Corps will soon begin ordering thousands of its troops back to active duty because of a shortage of volunteers for Iraq and Afghanistan _ the first involuntary recall since the early days of the war.

Up to 2,500 Marines will be brought back at a time, and there is no cap on the total number who may be forced back into service as the military helps fight the war on terror. The call-ups will begin in the next several months.

The number of troops in Iraq has climbed back to 138,000 _ the prevailing number for much of last year. Troop levels had been declining this year, to a low of about 127,000, amid growing calls from Congress and the public for a phased withdrawal. Escalating violence in Baghdad has led military leaders to increase the U.S. presence there.

This is the first time the Marines have had to use the involuntary recall since the beginning of the Iraq combat. The Army, meanwhile, has issued orders recalling about 10,000 soldiers so far, but many of those may be granted exemptions.

Marine Col. Guy A. Stratton, head of the manpower mobilization section, estimated that there is a current shortfall of about 1,200 Marines needed to fill positions in upcoming deployments.

Some of the military needs, he said, include engineers, intelligence, military police and communications.

As of Tuesday, nearly 22,000 of the 138,000 troops in Iraq were Marines.

The call-up will affect Marines in the Individual Ready Reserve, a segment of the reserves that consists mainly of those who have left active duty but still have time remaining on their eight-year military obligations.

Generally, Marines enlist for four years, then serve the other four years either in the regular Reserves, where they are paid and train periodically, or in the Individual Ready Reserve. Marines in the IRR are obligated to report only one day a year but can be involuntarily recalled to active duty.

To date, about 5,000 Army IRR soldiers have mobilized, and about 2,200 of those are currently serving, according to Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman. Of those 2,200, about 16 percent are volunteers, he said. A typical Army enlistment obligation is also for eight years.

According to Stratton, there are about 59,000 Marines in the IRR, but the Corps has decided to exempt from the call-up those who are either in their first year or last year of the reserve status. As a result, the pool of available Marines is about 35,000.

The deployments can last up to two years, but on average would be 12 to 18 months, Stratton said. Each Marine who is being recalled will get five months to prepare before having to report.

President Bush authorized the recall on July 26. It is the first such recall since early 2003, when about 2,000 Marines were involuntarily activated for the initial ground war in Iraq.

"Since this is going to be a long war," said Stratton, "we thought it was judicious and prudent at this time to be able to use a relatively small portion of those Marines to help us augment our units."

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The color font was mine for emphasis

Re: Since its going to be a long war - Marine Recall

Originally Posted by stevenavy2003

So basically you've uncovered the obvious: the USMC is possibly going to activate a clause that every recruit knew about at the time they enlisted. This isn't news.

I would think that the issue of a shortage of volunteers to go "finish the job" would be news. When there is reluctance among the forces to see the job finished, maybe there is something wrong with the way the job is being done.

Re: Since its going to be a long war - Marine Recall

Originally Posted by Rand

One side seems to have tied themselves to "stay the course"

The rhetoric seems to be changing with the circumstance …

Sunday on NBC’s Meet The Press, Republican Chairman Ken Mehlman said, “We’re not coming in and saying ‘Stay the Course.’ The choice in this election is not between ‘Stay the Course’ and ‘Cut and Run’ it’s between ‘Win by Adapting’ and ‘Cut and Run.’”

Re: Since its going to be a long war - Marine Recall

Originally Posted by stevenavy2003

Well, I'll concede that I'm not qualified to manage a war. But, I am qualified in many aspects of making war--you'll just have to believe me on that one.

My opinion: I think we need a wholesale new strategy. We need to bite the bullet and admit that our present course of action has been ineffective in the long run. With that announcement, we announce a grand strategy that forces the Iraqis to take point in the defense of their own nation. As an ally, we would stand by their side. But, it is paramount that they learn to defend themselves.

With all due respect, Steve, isn't that the grand strategy Bush has been touting for months (or is it years?) now? When the Iraqis are trained enough to take point, our troops will be relegated to support roles?

Re: Since its going to be a long war - Marine Recall

Originally Posted by stevenavy2003

Well, I'll concede that I'm not qualified to manage a war. But, I am qualified in many aspects of making war--you'll just have to believe me on that one.

My opinion: I think we need a wholesale new strategy. We need to bite the bullet and admit that our present course of action has been ineffective in the long run. With that announcement, we announce a grand strategy that forces the Iraqis to take point in the defense of their own nation. As an ally, we would stand by their side. But, it is paramount that they learn to defend themselves.

IMO, there will never be a cohesive Iraq military because the soldiers are not committed to the goals of the new government. The military and the police are of different ethnic groups whose hatred for each other spans centuries.

Imagine what would have happened in our Civil War if a foreign occupier tried to create one army composed of Rebels and Yankees and asked them to kill people in the South one day and people in the North, the next! If this unlikely, bizzare army didn't turn on each other, it wouldn't be long before they turn on the foreign occupier giving the orders.

Re: Since its going to be a long war - Marine Recall

Marine recall? Yes, it's probably in their original enlistment contract that the government reserves the right to recall them after their initial enlistment period expires. The Air Force had the same thing when I was on active duty. The bigger point here is, Bush and his cronies know it would be the final nail in their political coffins if he were to request a mandatory draft. That's why their doing it "back door" style. (No, I'm not referring to a sexual position you filthy minded sluts.)Unfortunately, the next administration, Republican or Democrat, will have one heck of a mess to clean up. I will be so happy when Bush is out of office. If we're lucky, we'll have someone in the White House and Congress with some brains that knows the value of separation of church and state!